How to Start A Lucrative Mini Importation Business

Have you ever thought of having another stream of income apart from your regular job?

Do you feel like you are not achieving your goals financially?

Do you want to know how to make extra 50,000 Naira to 300,000 Naira monthly from mini importation business?

Or

You’re having enormous responsibilities to cater for and being broke is the worst feeling ever?

And you decide to do something about it by starting a business, but you cannot afford the startup capital.

If yes is your answer, then this article is for you.

In this article, you’ll be expose to the secret of mini importation business plus how you can start a mini importation business in Nigeria.

This information will be the best you have read in recent times because I want to share with you what will make you become a millionaire in a matters of months and multimillionaire in matters of years.

Back in 2015, in my quest to secure alternative source of income. I attended a business seminar. In one of the sessions, we were taught on how to start a profitable mini importation business.

After the program, we decided to implement what was taught. So, in this post, I will share with you everything you need to know to be successful in the mini importation business here in Nigeria. Including lessons learned in the process.

Therefore, I urge you to grab your favorite drink and focus on studying every single word on this post because it’s will help you a great deal!

Now you may be wondering or Probably you thought one needed millions of naira and connections to venture in the mini importation business…

Or maybe you are imaging how time, energy and money consuming it will be?

I have packaged this article to take care of your fears, objections and anomalies.

I will first of all say that you don’t have anything to worry about anymore, because mini importation business has been made easier than ever… anybody can start mini importation business.

You’ll be amazed that with as little as N10,000 you can start making 6figures within few months. All you need is the right information and proper education about this business in order to go about it the right way without being scammed in the process.

Also, you will learn how to make Jumia, Konga, Payporte, deal day, etc., work for you with little of your effort and make money in your sleep. It’s that simple.

I know few persons who have raked in some 7figures in pure profits within few months and friends making hundreds of thousands monthly on this same business.

In the meantime, let’s get started with the basics.

You may ask, what exactly do I need to start this lucrative mini importation business in Nigeria?

All you simply need to get started include the following:

Laptop/Desktop/Tablet or Mobile Phone

Internet access

ATM Card -Naira MasterCard or VISA card

N10k or more depending on your choice of products.

An email address

A traceable physical location that will receive your products

No Custom Worries…

Mini Importation Business Requirement

Also, you will learn the trick scammers use and how to spot one when you come across them.

With the above-listed items, you can start your mini importation business in Nigeria and blossom in a matter of months. The good things about this business model is that everything you need to do can be done in the comfort of your home on your PC or mobile phone. So in a nut shell that is why it is called E-commerce or E-business.

For the records, kindly note that this article on mini importation business is completely different from the mini importation business report that is flying around the internet without any valuable information.

This article comprises years of demonstrable and practical experience which reveals how small-scale businessmen/women and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and beyond can become part of the mini importation business world with little capital investment. Which is why it being exceptional.

That said, my goal is to tailor this post on mini importation business specifically for people under the following categories:

People
that want to know how to;

Source for a product(s) on the international portals

Spot hot in demand products that will sell

Start out as a newbie

Avoid getting scammed

Stand out from competition

Shipped their products to their door step without headache

Sell their products before it even arrives

With the knowledge contained in this article, you too can import products at low wholesale prices and sell them for a much higher profit.

Have you ever asked yourself how much does Konga, Jumia, PayPorte and other big online shopping stores in Nigeria make every month?

By the
time you’re done reading this piece of information, you will be informed about everything
you should know to become a mini-importer and international businessperson!

Also note, the name mini importation does not of a necessity mean small importation. It all depends on the size of your pocket. There is no limit to the amount of money you can invest. Whatever the amount of money you invest to import goods, you will surely resell it to make over 200% in pure profits. Trust me, there is serious money to be made and people already in it are enjoying from this stuff.

How is money made in the Mini Importation Business?

You simply buy something (for example Mobile phones, shoes, accessories etc) at a low price and sell them at a higher price to make a profit.

The profit you make in this business is exclusively dependent on the kinds of products you ordered and their price ranges.

To increase the size of profit you can make, there are basically two options.

You can either find a way to buy your products at a lower price or look for customers who will buy them at a higher price.

Whatever happens, always ensure that you buy at a cheaper price and sell it at a higher price to make reasonable profits.

The thing is before now importing from overseas was difficult because most of the manufacturers have what is called Minimum Order Quantity.

It is the minimum quantity of products a supplier will sell to you in order to make a worthwhile profit.

Which was why the preferred to sell their goods in large volumes. Since you can only afford a few hundred products, most of the big overseas suppliers won’t want to do business with you.

For example, a businessman who owns a small business venture but sells imported goods cannot imports goods directly from overseas because of the number of products he will order.

Because of this, the big guys with fat accounts can afford to act as the middlemen thereby buying at a very cheaper rate over there and coming to double the price for you which will make your profits so little.

I hope you
get the jerk? Stay with me.

Even though you would like to enjoy these low wholesale prices too which will also increase your profit margin but because you do not have the kind of investment capital the big importers have, it somewhat makes it difficult.

Even if you could buy directly from the foreign product manufacturers, it would still be tough.

As a result of this hitches, you are stuck with the big importers. The profit you can make in your business is limited by whatever price they decide to fix on the imported goods.

But thank Goodness because things have changed.

The evolution of the internet has slide down the barriers which used to restrict access to manufacturers located thousands of kilometres away.

Advancement in transportation and logistics system have now make it possible for small businesses with little capital to import smaller amounts of stock at lowshipping costs straight from the manufacturers.

It is now on records that entrepreneurs and small businesses can relish the same low wholesale prices that the big importers have enjoyed for a very long time.

The pictorial illustration below shows the before and after analysis of what is in vogue and how this new business opportunity cuts out the middleman and allows you to buy directly from any manufacturers of your choice at lower prices that allow you to make a larger profit.

1Photo Credit: tutor2u

Things you should be aware of before we get started…

Our case study for this article will be on products manufactured in China because of reasons soon to be disclosed to you.

Although we shall also talk about products from the US and Europe, the tips in this article reveal more about buying products from Chinese manufacturers and suppliers.

The most likely question on your mind right now would be like: why China?

I’ll tell you why.

It no longer news that 80% of the world’s products today are being manufactured in the Asian continent particularly China, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Ranging from Cars, Phones, Laptops, Toys, computers, home appliances, kitchen utensils, etc are made in China.

You can even verify this by taking an inventory of all the things around you right now. It will amaze you to see that consciously or unconsciously out of every 10 products or items in your house 7 is made in China.

For example, sitting here while typing these lines…. My laptop is an HP Notebook made in China, my mobile phone is made in China (originally, made for the Chinese citizens so I had to remove the OS that came with it in order to be able to use it effectively here), my wrist watch is made in China and even my tablet is also made in China.

In this case aside my headset which is from Europe every other thing is from China.

Apart from food products, China is the number one source of all the hot-selling and fast-moving consumer products you know.

China is one of the cheapest manufacturers in the world because of its low labour and production costs. As a result, many of the big brands that you know such as Apple, HP, Techno, infinix, etc., make their products through factories and contractors based in China.

Countries like the US and various European countries ensure that products coming from China to these countries do not compromise in terms of quality because they set very strict standards which the Chinese usually adhere to.

Well, you may want to ask why I am telling you all this… it is on record that we Africans believes that China is the home for inferior or low-quality products.

While this
may be true, I don’t think we should blame the Chinese. After all, China also
produces many of the high quality products in America and Europe.

If our governments could enforce strict quality and safety standards for products coming into Africa, the Chinese would comply as they do for their clients in the USA and Europe.

However, you don’t have to worry about importing low-quality products. In the later part of this article, I’ll share with you the secrets of finding high-quality products and suppliers that meet US and European standards.

What you don’t need to get started

Be an internet or computer guru to get started.

Have millions of naira to invest in the business

Have a personal computer to get started.

Have a shop or an office to get started.

A visa to travel abroad to get started.

Know anyCustom officer because your products will be delivered to you anywhere in Nigeria

License to import goods from abroad

What are the necessary tools needed for you to get started

For you to get started and join the league of other young entrepreneurs into the world of small business owners who can now import products at low wholesale prices directly from overseas suppliers and manufacturers,

you would need just the following:

A computer or mobile phone

Internet Access

Valid email address

An ATM card that can be used for online transactions

A traceable physical home or office address where the items you order will be shipped to

A working phone number

You need a start-up capital: A little money in your bank account

Ability to browse the internet and fill a form correctly

This means that you can shop for, order and import all the products you want to sell from the comfort of your room, or while you are on transit via your mobile device or tablet.

Please note that a P.O Box or PMB (Private Mail Bag) does not qualify as a valid and traceable address.

Mini Importation Business Myths

Before I get started by telling you how to source for products, pay for it and get it shipped to your doorstep. Let’s quickly talk about the myth that has been painted otherwise.

You may have been told that you can start importing products with as low as N10,000 and make over N300,000 in 30 days. The truth is your profit margin is dependent on the type of products and their unit cost.

However, you can start with that amount of money as your start-up capital base on the products I will reveal to you and make a lot of profit from it.

Secondly, the fact that you are been told that AliExpress and DH Gate are the best placesto get cheap products from China is also a big fat lie.

Later on, I will reveal to you some of the best sites to get quality products that do not cost a ham and a leg.

Thirdly, they told you that you can beat Jumia and Konga or even PayPorte competition overnight. meaning you will be successful almost immediately. Well, the truth is to succeed in any business be it online or offline.

You must have a formidable strategy. Your mini importation business will blossom as a result of your strategy.

Lastly, Jumia, Konga and even Payporte did not acquire their success overnight. If your brain serves you well you will remember that Payporte had to sponsor the Big Brother Naija show which sky-rocketed their business.

There is a secret behind the success of every business and most of these mini importation business pundits have failed to reveal this secret to you or probably they do not even know it.

Here is your step by step Guidelines to starting your mini importation business in Nigeria:

Locate your product source

Source for Products

Buy from a reliable supplier

Pay for your products

Have your products deliver to you

Market your Products and

Sell your Products and make money.

Before you get on your computer and start surfing the net to start shopping and ordering products for your new found and exciting business.

I will walk you through the various steps listed above through some of the pressing questions of all times people tend to ask or you may refer to it as mini importation business frequently asked questions.

Let’s walk you through them and I know by the time you’re doing reading these, you would know the best and most-trusted places to buy from, how to confirm the quality of products, the payment processes and several more.

Now, without further ado, lets dive in.

Question 1: Where should I buy my products from as a beginner in Mini Importation Business?

The following websites are the most sort after and affordable online marketplace that sell products at low wholesale prices:

AliExpress is the China-based destination for small-scale importers that you can get to buy cheap Accessories, Mobile Phones, Computer Hardware & Software, Electronics, Health & Beauty, Bags & Cases, Watches & Jewellery and much more at wholesale prices.

It has more than 10 million exceptional consumer products and more than 20 major product categories. It buyers base is in more than 220 countries around the world

The goods on this site are tagged with prices on them. But Unlike some of the websites, AliExpress gives you the chance to chat with the sellers of the items you are interested in for further negotiation.

It has an express delivery with full tracking of the goods ordered. There is no need toworry about the delivery of the items ordered from this website.

AliExpress is one of the subsidiaries of the Alibaba Group which dominates internet-based commerce in China and was launched in 2010 as an online retail service made upof mostly small sellers offering products to online buyers.

This is a great online store that have stand the test of time and you cannot afford to leave it behind when we are talking about the online shopping website. This is an American based website that has been in operation since 1995.

It started as an online bookstore, but now sells all kinds of goods ranging from an electronic device, home appliance, and fashion stuff. Amazon has the best products with an affordable prices that one can order.

It allows users to submit reviews of each product by rating them from one to five stars. You can check the website to see it yourself.

With more than 250,000 cheap products for the global market encompassing the very latest in top-quality electronics and fashion. Their goal is to always provide worldwide customers with high-quality products at the lowest prices.

The website is a fast trading marketplace where users can order Chinese-manufactured products directly through the site. The company has been in business since 2004 and is backed by investors KPCB, JAFCO and Warburg Pincus.

In 2015, DHgate.com launched DHport.com, a manufacturer-to-business platform that allowsretailers to source products in bulk directly from factories. DHport featuresmanufacturers who are required to be certified up to global standards, andcustoms clearance.

Now…

Irrespective of the websites you settle to start shopping and placing your orders. The first thing you must do is to sign up and become a registered member. And thisprocess is an easy ride.

All you have to do is to click on the signup or register button depending on the website which is always located at the top right or left corner of the homepage.

You will be sent to the registration form which requires that you complete some basic information about you. Most of these websites required that you sign-up using either your Facebook, Twitter or Google account.

As soon as your registration is complete, you can start shopping and adding items to yourcart. When you’re ready to order, you will be led to the Payment page.

Question 2: What are the various means or ways of paying
for products?

Before now, making payment for your goods was one of the reasons why it was nearly impossible for small businesses to import directly from manufacturers and suppliers in USA, China, Hong Kong, etc.

The thing is as of then, Banks had to issue a Letter of Credit or Bank Guarantee which often involved a long and complex process that was complicated and frustrating. Thereby making things unbearable.

Today, with the adventure of theInternet of Things. Payment has been made easy through online payment gateways, all the websites we mentioned above accept payment through a wide range of channels.

You can do a bank transfer or pay with a credit/debit card. Yes, the same card you use at the ATMs machine can be used to make purchases on these websites.

Just make sure your bank account is sufficiently funded so you can make payments. Fast and easy! No banks or long processes involved!

Question 3: What can I do not to get scammed in this Mini Importation Business?

Well, from the invention of Internet-based or online business transactions. The word Scams and fraud have been iconic and this posed a serious issue in the e-Commerce industry for a very long time.

Some of
the budging questions in this mini importation business include:

What if the goods I receive are not as stated on the websites

What if I received fake products?

What if after payment, my goods were never shipped or delivered?

How do I know fake manufacturers or suppliers?

What should be done to ensure you are not scammed and you get the exact products you requested for?

Now understand that every website on our recommendation list has some form of buyer protection mechanism built into their payment system to avoid fraud.

Secondly, we do advise that you use Escrow Services while transacting. This service is specifically designed with the customers in mind. It ensures that the buyer is never scammed and will get whatever they pay for.

The service ensures that your payment is withheld until you receive your products, inspect them and be satisfied before your payment is release to the supplier or seller.

The websites also offer reimbursement and return policy in case you are not satisfy with the products you received. The processes are put in place to reduce fear and risk of losing money by customers.

Question 4: Where can I get high-quality products and reliable sellers?

The fact that we classify products from China as low-end products which have remain the biggest concern of people in Nigeria and Africa is a serious misfit.

Unlike our counterpart from the US and Europe with strict quality and safety standards which protects buyers in those regions.

It is noted that African and Nigerian to are susceptible to low-quality products.

So how then
will you be sure that you’re buying good quality products from a reliable
seller?

The simple
answer to use Customer Feedback Rating and product reviews.

A Customer Feedback Rating is used to measure the seller’s reputation. After every completed transaction, a buyer will leave feedback either positive or negative based on their experience with that seller. This rating adds up to affect the overall rating of that seller and the product.

If the seller always delivers as promised, he/she will often get more positive feedback from satisfied customers. On the flip side, if the seller’s service isbad, unhappy customers will be happy to give such a person a negative feedback which will bring down the seller’s rating.

However, this rule is not absolute. You should take the time to read the actual comments and feedback by previous buyers. From reading these, you will get some vital insights and pieces of information about the quality of the seller’s product on early or late deliveries and so on.

It is strongly advisable that you always read the product description and specifications to enable you havea first-hand information about the product.

Also, enhance yourself with the seller guarantees and shipping conditions which are usually stated or outline at the bottom corner of every product page.

You need to confirm that the product you’re buying has the features you’re looking for. Remember, what you pay for is what you get.

Question 5: How will the products be delivered to you?

There are
several ways for product delivery. You may decide to use the free shipping
options, or delivery services companies. Which are either through the sea or
air.

Also, note
that some of the products on these websites have free shipping options to many
countries around the world just that the delivery time is always longer.

Shipping
methods will depend on the volume of the goods from the suppliers. The
international freight companies always assist in choosing the best shipping
method in consideration of cost and time of delivery.

Air freight forwarding is best when the importer can afford the cost and the time for delivery will be fast. Sea cargo shipping cost is based on the per cubic meters of goods though.

Whether
you decide to use a free shipping option or a faster delivery service for your
order, we advise that you include your mobile phone number in the shipping
address you provide.

More often
than not, you will receive a telephone call from the local DHL/FedEx office to
come pick up your items. Including a phone number may mean the difference
between a delivered packaged and a lost one.

Question 6: how do I Compare Price and Quality

You will
always find many sellers who are retailing the same products but at different
prices. Some of them have free shipping option while others will lessen the
transportation fee for you after negotiations. Ensure you engage a merchant
that has high rating up to 97% or look for the one with 5 stars.

When you
identify a product of interest click on it and scroll down and read other
people reviews about the product, buyers always return to comment about the product
they bought if you see many complains or negative feedback just check another
merchant.

Ensure to chat
with the seller, before embarking on purchase. you can start by messaging them
about your interest on a certain product then ask if the product is still
available, the quality and delivery duration.

If you opt
to use the free shipping option, then select free shipping to Nigeria option on
top of the page when doing the search. The issue with free shipping is the
duration; it might take up to 30 days to arrive

Question 7: What are the hot-selling products?

Although the
websites we revealed to you earlier have most of the popular and hot-selling
products you can think of.

Some of these products are Fashion for both men and women; Electronics like cameras and gadgets of all sorts; Sports accessories; Health & Beauty; Kids & Baby; Home & Garden; Automotive. Foody Mine 12Pcs PVC 3D Wonderful Art Butterfly Design Wall Stickers Decals Home Decor Poster and mobile phones and accessories like headphones, chargers, batteries etc.

Another hottest product out there is hair extensions of all types. They are in hot demand by a growing number of young women, many of who live in cities and are in the middle and working class.

For you to know the best-selling products per time. You must look out for trends in your local market. You need to have an eye for the kind of products that are in high demand in your locality.

The
general rule is import a sample product first to showcase and see how many of
your friends and relatives including neighbours that will be interested in it.

Look out
for products that already exist in your market that you can import and sell for
at cheaper prices.

This
business has a lot of prospective if you can find the right products for your
customers at the right prices.

Question 8: How will I Sell my Imported Products?

It is
advisable that you import small quantity of the product for a start, show and
sell them around your neighbourhood, to your friends, colleagues, and also
display them on social media handles such as twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook,
Instagram, Pinterest etc. As more people become interested in your products
then you can increase the quantity of your subsequent purchase.

You can also sell them for wholesale, but first know the market price of other retailers and ensure your price is lesser. By so doing you will seize the opportunity and sell more and quickly. Thereby making more profit.

Advertise
your products in online stores such as Jumia, Konga, Payporte etc. This is
another amazing avenue for you to sell large quantities in short time as you
will be exposed to a greater percentage of the audience who may be interested
in your products.

Question 9: How much capital do I need to start?

You don’t
need to break the bank to start this business. I will advise that you start
with something small and grow with it.

Also you
may have notice that on the websites. most of the products sales at a very
cheap rate. Not all of them, but many of them sell at very low prices. In fact,
the more units of a product you buy, the lower the price you pay; that’s the
benefit of buying wholesale.

And don’t
forget, the lower the price you pay, the higher the profits you can make.

Ensure you
start with products that cost very little but are very high in demand in your
locality. You can use it to test the viability of this business idea and grow
your confidence.

For most
of the products you import, you can make over 50 to 100% profit margins if you
can find the right buyers to sell to.

As you
make some money in your new mini importation business, you can start to try out
other products that cost a little more.

Never let the
excitement of your new found business get the better of you. You must avoid the
temptation of investing heavily at first unless you already have ready buyers
for your products.

Start
small and then grow gradually. This strategy may take a little more time but
it’s less risky and helps to build your experience and confidence.

Question 10: How Long Does It Take for My Goods to Arrive

This will
depend on the number of days you choose and paid for. If you want express that
is a day’s shipping it is possible but you will pay more.

There’s the three days’ payment, it is a bit lower than the express, followed by that of a week, and the cheapest is the one that runs into months those are mostly carried through ship.

For free
shipping as stated above it takes time but there are items that can be
transported free from some courier companies, example is DHL.

To get free shipping from DHL, go to the category of the products you want to purchase at the top of the page select the free shipping option and choose DHL as the shipping method.

A list of
so many other products that can go through the company will come out, you then
select they ones you want.

Now that you have this information
about mini importation at your disposal. When will you start?

Conclusion

The mini importation
business is a goldmine that most Nigerians are yet to take advantage of. Even
those who are already into it still lack some basic skills and knowledge on how
to run the business successfully.

To this
end, I want to share with you an enviously shielded secret that most people do
not want you to know about this mini importation business. Especially those who
are already raking in thousands of naira monthly in this business.

My purpose for creating this undiluted and fully loaded information on mini importation business is to teach you how to double or even triple your current profit in mini importation business and also to teach newbies the secrets.

I want to show you some of the hidden ways you can use to increase/multiply your current profit or start well from the very beginning.

Like I
mentioned earlier in the cause of our discussion, the opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs like you to import directly from overseas
manufacturers and suppliers has not always existed.

It has now
become possible partly because big businesses around the world have come to
recognize Africa as a strong and emerging economic powerhouse.

Also, kindly use the share button to share this post with friends and family who are in need of this information and other related ones.

To your success!

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About Ini Patrick

Hello, I'm Ini Patrick, a Serial Entrepreneur, Business Analyst, and Web Business Strategist. Am committed to helping entrepreneurs grow their business by sharing hybrid information and ideas that teaches strategies and systems to start and grow any business.

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About

Hello! My name is Ini Patrick, I’m committed to helping entrepreneurs do better. I share hybrid information and ideas that teaches strategies and systems to help you start and grow any business. Here’s how you can learn moreabout this blog, contact me or submit an article. Cheers!

About

Ini Patrick Notes was conceived with the intention of sharing hybrid informative and educative information on business and entrepreneurship that will propel and help start-ups and SMEs to think beyond the possible to succeed in their business adventures. The overarching purpose of this blog is to share valuable information on business ideas, advice, tips, opportunities and resources that will motivate, and inspires young entrepreneurs and keep them satisfied in their business endeavors.